As she bats the cloud of swirling cat hair around her face, Veterinary Technology Professor Markiva Contris laughs about the “hazards” of the job.

“We’re all covered in cat hair. It’s practically part of the uniform!” she says.

Markiva has been teaching future vet techs at Pierce College Fort Steilacoom since 1992. A licensed vet tech and graduate of the Pierce College program, she knows how important it is for students to get the best training possible.

“It can be a high stress job, but, at the end of the day, you get this,” she said, referring to the cat purring in her arms. “There’s a lot to love about being a vet tech.”